Spinner control mechanism



Sept. 21, 1948. J. c. VAN RIPER 2,449,630

' SPINNER CONTROL MECHANISM Filed Nov. 6, 1947 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 3mm Jo/m C. 'l/anRzPer P 4 J. c. VAN RIPER SPINNER CONTROL MECHANISM Filed Nov. 6, 1947 s Sheets-Sheet s Q John 6. Van Rz'per Patented Sept. 21, 1948 SPINNER oon'rnor. MECHANISM John C. Van Riper, Radburn. N. 1., ascignor to John H. Han, Morriltown, N. 1.

Application November 6, 1947, Serial No. 784,451

with the movement of the ring rail. so that the balloon of roving being spun into thread can be maintained at a predetermined length as the ring rail traverses the spindles. As pointed out in that application. there is an optimum dis tance between ring rail and draft rolls where strain upon the thread is at a minimum. and so long as that distance is maintained thread breakage is reatly reduced. To that end a mechanism was provided to: initiate the upward movement of the draft rail when the ring rail in its spindle traversing movement arrived at the optimum distance from the draft rail: control the upward movement of the draft rail to synchronize its movements with those of the ring rail; stop the upward movement of the draft rail when the ring rail had completed traversing the spindles; and return the draft rail to its starting position. i

The present invention has for its object the provision Of improved means for controlling the movements of the draft rail during the various steps of operation set out above.

Another object of the invention is to provide such mechanism which can be more compactly and conveniently arranged to occupy a small space at one end of the machine so as to be out of the way of the spinning. mechanim and in an accessible position for necessary adjustment and repair. i

A further object of the invention is to provide 40 such control mechanism which is positioned for movement in the directional? movement of the draft rail to simplify the construction and add materially to the emciency of its operation Another object is to add certain eaiety devices to prevent overrunning of the parts and avoid possible breakage or damage to the mechanism.

A further specific object of the invention is to provide novel braking means to stop the operation of the draft rail jacks to prevent undue movement of the draft rail.

I Other objects of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of one practical embodiment'of the invention when taken in conjunction with the drawings which accompany and form a part of this specification.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary vertical transverse section taken near one end of the spinner showing the improved control mechanism in association with related parts of the spinning machine;

Figure 2 is a partial front view of the spinner showing the new control mechanism;

Figure 3 is a vertical section taken on the line 3-4 of Figure 1 and shows details of the draft rail jack shaft brake mechanism; and,

Figure 4 is a diagram of the electrical circuits employed.

Referring to the drawings in detail, and first adverting to those parts of the spinning machine disclosed in co-pending application, Se-

20 rial No. 704,896, which are necessary to an understanding of the present invention, the machine comprises a frame having a plurality of spaced vertical frame members i secured to a horizontally positioned spindle supporting rail i. As disclosed in the above mentioned application, the machine is usually a double one havins a pair of rails 2, one extending the length of either side of the machine with the frame members l positioned transversely of the machine between the rails 2. Each rail it carries a longitudinai row of vertically positioned spindles 3 upon which the spun yarn is wound. Roving carried on suitable cops, not shown, passes between the rolls of the draft section it through a thread guide 5 to a' ring traveller t, and then to the spindles. The ring traveller is mounted upon the usual ring l carried upon thering rail d. Spindles t are caused to rotate by means of i any appropriate mechanism.

the thread being spun to balloon, as at 9, be-

tween the traveller and the thread guide 5. During the building of the bobbin the ring rail which is supported upon brackets Ill slidable on vertical posts ll. traverses the spindles with a vertical oscillating movement, the upward movement of each oscillation being greater than the downward movement by a slight increment, resulting in a progressive upward movement of the ring rail; This shortens the balloon and places increased strain upon the yarn being spun. As disclosed in co-pending application, Serial No. 704,696, the oscillating movement of the ring rail is caused by a bobbin builder, not shown, which is connected to and oscillates a horizontal bar l2. Bar I2 is connected by-means of chains- |3 which pass over sprockets to vertical rods l4 which carry the ring rail brackets l0.

The above mentioned application discloses".-

means for causing the draft section and thread guides to rise synchronously with the' ring rail when the ring rail has traversed thespindles a sufiicient distance to create a balloon of optimum length. The mechanism provides forthe draft rail l5, which carries the necessary draft rolls, being pivotally mounted between supporting arms it which have their opposite ends pivoted to the end frame members Thesearms are so positioned that they assume equal angular positions below and above a horizontal plane when the draft section is at its lower and upper limits of travel. Thus, the pivotal connections between the arms and draft section assume positions in= the same vertical plane when the draft section is at rest at either .of its limits of travel. The draft rail is held supported by being secured to the upper ends of lifting jacks l1 which are mounted upon the frame members. The jacks H on each side of the machine are provided with a common operating shaft l8 driven by means of a motor |il,- the operation of the motor being automatically controlled by the position and movement of the ring rail. During the upward movement of the ring rail, the brackets in strike the thread guide supporting brackets which are slidable on the posts II, and the brackets 23 then floatupon the brackets I0, causing the thread guides to reciprocate in unison with the ring rail.

The present invention concerns improved means for controlling the operation of the jack motor, and consequently, the movement of the draft section, and places positive limit controls on the draft section movement. As mentioned above, the spinner is usually a double machine and it will be understood that although mechanism for controlling only one side is shown, duplicate mechanism will be-employed forthe opposite side ofthe machine.

In carrying out the invention, a sectional control rod 2| comprising an upper section 22 anda lower section 23, has the upper end of section 22 pivotally attached to the draft rail I5. The lower section 23 is vertically slidable in bearings 24 carried by bracket 25 secured to one of the frame members I. The upper and lower sections of the control rod are pivotally connected, as at 26, which, together withthe pivotal connection between the upper section and the draft rail, permits the lower section to move axially in its bearings, while the upper section swings to follow the arcuate path of movement of the draft rail. It will be noted from Figure 1 that the 'connection between section 22 and the draft rail, and

14, adiacer'it the control rod 2|, is provided with a cam 33 attached to its lower end in such posi- :tion as to contact, and depress, the operating the ring rail.

proper sequence during the upward movement of The relative positions of the cam 33 and the switches 30, 3| and 32 on their respective rods permit the ring rail to move upwardly a substantialdistance before the micro-switches will be actuated. As the ring rail, and consequently the lifting rod |4, move upwardly during the building of the bobbin, cam 33 will first contact switch 30, but, as this is a normally closed switch, its actuation does not initiate the lifting of the draft section. Further upward movement of the ring rail and rod |4 causes cam 33 to depress switch 3| closing a circuit through jack motor l9 to raise the Jacks, and the draft section. The lifting speed of the jacks will exceed that of rod l4 causing switch 30 to overtake, and be depressed by cam 33 breaking the circuit through the Jack motor.

The above action is repeated throughout the building of the bobbin, and the control rod moves steadily'upward. Bracket 21 has one edge shaped to form a cam 34, and, as the control rod moves upward cam 34 moves with it. When the bobbin is completed, cam 34 will strike a limit switch 35, breaking the jack motor circuit and preventing further. upward movement of the draft section.

To. return the draft section to its lower, starting position, a push button switch 36 is manually pressed, closing a reverse circuit through the jack motor which will run down the jacks and lower the draft section. As the draft section approaches its starting position the cam 34 will strike a down limit switch 31 breaking the jack motor circuit.

.The above is the normal operation of the machine, and this cycle is repeated during the buildof each bobbin.

Due to the fact that both the ring rail and draft section are movable, and each may be independently moved, there is some likelihood that a collision between thetwoycould occur. To prevent this, the "micro-switch 32 is provided. This switch is normally closed and is mounted above the switches 3|] and 3|. If the ring rail and draft rail should approach one another, the

control rod 2| will be moving downward with respect to rod l4, and rod M will be moving upward with respect to control rod 2|. This will cause cam 33 carried by rod H to operate switch the position of the bearing guides. for section 23 v are such that the two sections of the control rod will be in axial alignment when the draft section is at its lowest and highest limits of travel. The

I control rod is located on' the machine so as to be in substantially the same vertical transverse plane as, and adjacent to,.one of the ring railactuat ing rods |4.

' Coil 4| becomes energized through the closing of Near the lower end of section 23 ofthe controlg'm automatic switch 3| or the manual switch 41 of the circuits to the jack motor; This will shut down the entire machine and'prevent damage which might be caused by collision of the ring rail and draft rail.

A push button switch 48 is in circuit with the two Jack motor switch control coils II and 42 so that the movement of the draft rail may be stopped at the will of the operator.

In. the event of failure of the automatic controls or safety switches, the movement of the draft section will be stopped by means of brake mechanism which is carried in part by the Jack shaft in and part by the draft sectlon'control rod 2 i. The brake comprises a drum 49 mounted on the jack shaft it, and brake shoes Eli and iii mounted-at spaced points on thecontrol rod ii. The drum is provided with a peripheral groove 52 having steeply beveled sides. The shoes are curved sectors 5t and 65, having drum engaging sections b6 and B! which are beveled to match the bevel of the peripheral groove in the drum fit. The steep bevel employed allows the brake shoes to enter the groove some distance thereby providing considerable frictional engaging surface. The brake shoes 5t and it are secured to the upper section of the control rod 2i in such positions that they will engage the brake drum immediately after the safety switches have been contacted by their respective cams. If the safety switches function, of course, the mechanism controlled thereby will stop, and the brake will not be engaged. If the switches fail, however, the proper brake shoe will engage the drum, stopping the jack shaft and stalling the lack motor. It will be obvious that brake shoe at will engage the drum if thedraft section and control rod are moving downward, and brake shoe El will function if the movement is upward. As mentioned before, the upper section of the control rod which carries the brake shoe is free t9 swing with the arcuate movement of the draft section, but is in vertical alignment with the lower section when the limits of travel are reached. Therefore, although the section 22 and the brake shoes will move outward during the upward and downward movement of the draft rail, the movement of the section will be inward as the limits of travel are reached, thus bringing the brake shoes into position to engage the brake drum.

In operation, the machine will be started by pressing push button M which controls the main motor. This will complete a circuit energizing coil it which will close the motor switches db and ,the switch 45 which completes a holding circuit through coil 3% to maintain the motor switches closed after switch to has been released.' The motor, as is well understood in the art, will rotate the spindles, rotate the draft rolls, and cause the ring rail to begin its oscillatory traversing of the spindles. As the ring rail oscillates. rod M oscillates with it. The movement of the ring rail and rod M is greater, by a small amount, in the upward direction than in a downward direction. This causes these members to gradually rise as the bobbin is built. When the bobbin has been built to a predetermined point, cam 33 carried at the bottom of rod It will have risen to a point where it will depress and close switch 3 I This completes a circuit through coil ll which closes the Jack motor switches to operate the Jack motor to raise the jacks and lift the draft rail.

motor II and jacks" are geared to raise the 1 draft rail at a greater speed than that of the ring rail. Thus the control rod 2! will move faster than the rod ,and switch 30 will overtake, and a be operated by, cam 38 breaking the holding circuit throughcoil 4| and permitting the jack motor switches to open, stopping the jack motor. The switches 30 and 3! are spaced so that cam it must move a distance equal to the distance that the ring rail and rod i4 oscillate plus an increment. This increment is variable and represents the distance the draft rail will move each time switch it is actuated. The ring rail and rod it will continue their oscillation until their progress ve upward movement equals the space increment that has been pre-set when the switches 3t and ti were positioned. Then switch 3i will be actuated again and the draft section will be lifted. This operation is continued until the bobbin is completed, whereupon cam 34 on control rod ti will strike, and open, limit switch 35 breaking the holding circuit through coil ll and holding the circuit open to prevent further operation of the Jack motor. Closing switch 36 will complete a circuit through coil 42, closing the switches for a reverse movement of the jack motor to run the draft section down to its starting point. When the motor switches are closed another switch is also closed completing a holding circuit through coil 42 to maintain the circuit so that switch 36 need be pressed only to start the reverse movement. When the draft section reaches its lowest point, cam 3t will open limit switch 31 stopping the/motor. -Upon failure of any of these switches to function, or if for any other reason the draft rail and ring rail move beyond their predetermined limits and there is danger of collision of the two, cam 33 will open switch 32 breaking the circuits to both main and jack motors, shutting down the entire machine. If the draft rail should go beyond ordinary limits of travel either brake shoe be or shoe 5| will engage brake drum 9 on the Jack shaft is and stall the jack motor.

It will be notedthat although the spinner is designed for automatic control, the movement of the draft sectionalways may be manually controlled. Switch t1 when closed will initiate operation of the jack motor to raise the draft section, and switch 35 may be pressed to lower it. The movement of the draft section either upward or downward may be stopped by pressing switch it.

While in the above there has been disclosed a preferred and, practical embodiment of the invention. it is to be understood that the invention may take other-forms the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. Control mechanism for ring spinners having a draft section vertically movable in increments equal to the upward movement of the ring rail comprising, a control rod vertically depending from the draft section, means to start and means to stop the movement of the draft rail carried by the control rod, and means carried by the ring rail assembly to actuate said start and stop means.

2'. Control mechanism for ring spinners having a draft section vertically movable in increments equal to the upward movement of the ring rail comprising, an articulated control rod comwithin the scope of' posed of two sections pivoted together, the upper section being pivotally connected to the draft section and the lower section being vertically slidable in guides mounted on a stationary part of said spinner, switches to control the movement of the draft rail mounted at spaced points on the guided section of said control rod, and switch operating means carried by the ring rail assembly.

3. Control mechanism for ring spinners having a draft section vertically movable in increments equal to the upward movement of the ring rail comprising, an articulated control rod composed of two sections pivoted together, the upper section being pivotally connected to the draft section, and the lower section being vertically slidable in guides mounted on a stationary part of said spinner, a switch to start and a switch to stop the movement of the draft rail mounted at spaced points on the guided section of said control rod, a switch to stop the spinner mounted on the guided section of the control rod beyond the first mentioned switches, and switch operating means carried by the ring rail assembly.

, 4. In control mechanism for ring spinners as claimed in claim 3, limit switches to control the range of movement'of said draft section fixed at spaced points on the spinner, and means carried by the guided portion of said control rodto actuate said limit switches.

5. In spinning machines having a vertically movable draft section, vertically movable means for lifting and lowering the draft section, a horizontal rotatable shaft for actuating said vertically movable means, a control rod vertically depending from said draft section, and means on said control rod to engage said shaft to stop its rotation when said draft section reaches its upper and lower limits of travel.

6. In spinning machines having a vertically movable draft section, vertically movable means for lifting and lowering said draft section, a horizontal rotatable shaft for actuating said vertically movable means, a control rod vertically depending from said draft section and extending to a point below said shaft, friction elements secured to said control rod at spaced points to occupy positions above and below said shaft, and a companion friction element on said shaft with which the friction elements on said control rod engage to stop the rotation of said shaft when said draft section reaches its upper and lower limits of travel.

'I. In spinning machines having a vertically movable draft section which follows an arcuate path from its lower to upper limits of movement, vertically movable means for lifting and lowering said draft section, a horizontal rotatable shaft for actuating said vertically movable means, an at;

ticulated control rod of two sections, the upper section being pivotally connected to the draft section and the lower section being vertically slidable in guides fixed to a stationary part of the spinner, friction elements secured to the upper sectionof said control rod, and a companion friction element on said shaft with which the friction elements on the control rod engage when said draft section reaches its upper and lower limits of travel. the control rod being so positioned with respect to the path of movement of the draft section that the sections of the rod are in alignment when the friction elements engage.

8. Control mechanism for ring spinners having a draft section vertically movable in increments equal to the upward movement of the ring 'rail in which the draft section follows an arcuate path from its lower to upper limits of,

travel, vertically movable means for lifting and lowering said draft section, a horizontal rotatable shaft for actuating said vertically movable means, an articulated control rod of two sections, the upper section being pivotally connected to the draft section and the lower section being vertically slidable in guides fixed to a stationary part of the spinner, a switch to start and a switch to stop rotation of said shaft mounted at spaced points on the guided section of said control rod. switch operating means carried by the ring rail assembly, limit switches to control the range of movement of said draft section fixedat spaced points on the spinner, means carried by the guided section of the control rod to actuate said limit switches, friction elements secured to the upper section of the control rod, a companion friction ,element on the shaft with which the friction elements engage upon-failure of the limit I switches to function, and an additional switch mounted on the guided section of the control rod and operable by the switch operating means carried by the ring rail assembly to stop the spinner.- 

